Breathing Tool

Concept: Awareness of breathing bring immediate calm and time to think. It is a bridge to self-reflection that guides us toward effective choices and positive change. Cultures across the world have recognized the breath as a gateway to wisdom. Without the healthy ability to practice inner-calm and self-reflection, it is difficult to learn, relate with others, or know oneself. Attention to breathing is key to self-control, understanding, and genuine connection with others.

Hand gesture: touch thumbs and index fingers together in front of you as if holding a tape measure; slowly pull hands apart while taking a breath. On exhale, bring hands slowly back together. Repeat three times.

Suggestions on how to introduce the tool to your students:

· Take a slow, deep breath. With one hand on your stomach and the other hand over your heart, breathe in slowly through your nose, and focus on the air coming into your lungs. With the in-breath, count slowly 1…2…3… Notice how your stomach expands like a balloon. Then let out the breath through your mouth, counting 1…2…3… Do this three times. Model for your students.

· Review the hand gesture and say out loud together “I calm myself and check-in”.

· Practice a few times together and ask them how they feel.

· Ask when they’ve seen people take deep breaths: singers before then sing, baseball pitchers before they throw, gymnasts before beginning a routine, teachers before they answer a hard questions

· Ask when students take a deep breath: when standing in a line, when you’re feeling angry, before taking a test, before going to bed, when you’re feeling nervous or afraid, when you’re spilled something, when it’s hard to do something

Practice and implementation- choose from the following:

· Have students practice breathing tool before, during or after transitions

· At the beginning of each day lead the breathing exercises

· Cue students using the hand gestures to remind them to stop and breathe